Preston North End

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom praised his team for scrapping their way to three points on a poor Deepdale surface against Portsmouth.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It was hard-fought, a very good three points in the end.

"I don't think we'll get many pretty games on that pitch but we might get good and exciting ones for different reasons and that one got tense.

"We never really opened them up to get that second goal which would have been nice so we had to defend our box well which we did, so I was pleased we could get the three points in the end."

The end to Preston North End's transfer window was frantic, according to head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

The Lilywhites brought in midfielder Andy Moran from Brighton and striker Callum Lang on deadline day but lost midfielder Mads Frokjaer to Danish Superliga side Brondby for an undisclosed fee.

"It was a tough window. We had to be patient and keep plugging away. It got more complex when someone came in for Mads so, the last two days, it was frantic," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I never got a chance to speak to Mads before it happened but I was clear if he went we needed another player.

"It put more emphasis on getting Andy over the line and until we knew we could get both Callum and Andy done it was not signed-off that Mads was going."

Former Portsmouth forward Lang could face his ex-employers when Preston host Pompey on Saturday (15:01 GMT) although he has not played in the Championship since Boxing Day.

"He's trained fully (Thursday) - he's fit but easing him back into the minutes is our next step," added Heckingbottom.

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Preston North End could include their record signing Callum Lang in their squad just five days after the forward left their opponents on Saturday, Portsmouth.

The Lilywhites have slipped three points outside the play-offs after a four-game winless run.

Pompey are four games unbeaten but only one point clear of the relegation zone.

• Preston are unbeaten in their past 11 home league games against Portsmouth (W7 D4) since a 5-0 loss in February 1973.

• Following their 1-0 win in August, Portsmouth are looking to complete the league double over Preston for the first time since 1969-70.

• Preston have lost their past two home league games (1-0 v Derby, 3-0 v Hull). They last lost three in a row in the same season in December 2023, while they last did so without scoring in October 2020 (4).

• Portsmouth have lost just one of their past nine league games (W4 D4), and are looking to win consecutive matches for the first time since April 2025.

• Only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (1) have won fewer away games in the Championship this season than Portsmouth (2).

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom wasn't holding back halfway through January when he said it would be criminal if his squad wasn't stronger coming out of the transfer window than when they went into it.

It will be interesting to hear how Heckingbottom feels it has panned out when we catch up with him ahead of Saturday's home match against Portsmouth.

The first thing to say is that money has been spent - in Callum Lang's case, a club-record fee.

In higher-end Championship terms, we're not talking fortunes, but on a couple of occasions this season, the directors of the club have described this year's squad as the most expensively assembled in the club's history.

At a time when the club are in talks with regards to a potential takeover, it would have been easy to do little or nothing.

Lang looks a good signing. The obvious concern is the number of his appearances this season have been severely restricted by injury, but he will give them a different option at the top of the pitch and fill the position vacated by Will Keane's move to Reading.

North End have paid for Andy Moran as well. The second time they've taken one of Brighton's academy graduates in as many windows.

Moran follows Odel Offiah to Deepdale from the Amex. He's had two Championship loans already, he knows the level and will undoubtedly be a better player for the experience of spells at Blackburn and Stoke.

The one thing he isn't is Harrison Armstrong. North End waited as long as they could before accepting their loanee from the first half of the season wouldn't be back from Everton to end the campaign.

In reality, why would he come back? He's playing regularly in the Premier League for his boyhood club. It wouldn't be fair to call Moran a direct, like-for-like replacement.

We'll wait and see what impact Milos Lukovic has during his loan from now until the summer.

As well as the permanent departure of Keane and the return of Armstrong to Everton, North End have let Mads Frokjaer and Stefan Thordarson leave on permanent deals.

With the changes last summer, neither were part of Heckingbottom's strongest teams this year. Both did OK.

Frokjaer appeared to be a fan favourite with some. Personally, I never felt that he influenced a game in the way real maverick players do and it's probably best for all parties that they move on.

So, it's a huge blow to lose Armstrong, but Moran and Lang both look like good permanent captures going forward.

Image source, Getty Images

Today is the final chance of the season for your Championship team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom speaks to BBC Radio Lancashire after their 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town.

"The result is a shame but the performance was good and strong. Sometimes it goes against you. For the majority of the game I felt we were comfortable regardless of the players they've got and how well coached they are," he said.

"I felt that we controlled when they had the ball and after the first five minutes we did carry our threat and I felt that threat grew in the game.

"That's the way it goes. You know you're going to have big spells to defend, especially as the game wears on and Kieran is throwing more attacking players on.

"It's frustrating and a shame. I don't think anyone could begrudge us if we'd got the three points there because it was really well done and a big performance but we didn't manage to do it."

Preston left-back Andrija Vukcevic wants to help turn North End's fortunes around after his return to action.

A recurring hamstring injury has seen the 29-year-old Serbia defender limited to just four substitute appearances since October, the latest in Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Middlesbrough which followed a seven-game lay-off.

Three wins in 11 Championship games since the start of December has seen the Lilywhites slip to ninth, having spent the majority of the season in the play-off places.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I am finally back, I am feeling good, I have been working hard to come back as quick as I can. I am just happy to be able to perform again.

"It's been a bad run of games but we have already shown this season what we are capable of doing so I think we will bounce back quick.

"We are focused on improving. We have an opportunity to turn around on Saturday (at Ipswich, 15:00 GMT).

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is still positive, everyone is focused on improving, that's the most important thing.

"It's just a bad run and everyone will try to turn this around."

The 22-cap Montenegro star revealed he has been supporting his compatriot Milutin Osmajic following his latest disciplinary indiscretion - a red card for headbutting Hull's John Lundstram on 20 January.

"We have been talking a lot," Vukcevic said. "I feel sorry for him. He's been playing really well and this kind of thing happens and sets you back a bit, because he needs to be here to help the team, score goals and focus on football.

"He has to learn how to handle those situations, to be smarter in such a situation. He knows he made mistakes and I hope it won't happen again."

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says he shares the frustration of the fans about limited incomings so far in the January transfer window - but hopes they can strengthen before the deadline passes.

The Lilywhites have made one signing, bringing striker Milos Lukovic in on loan, but their squad has been depleted in recent weeks by departures, injuries and suspensions.

North End are without eight players they had available at the start of the month.

Daniel Iversen, Andrew Hughes and Brad Potts are injured, while Milutin Osmajic is serving a three-game suspension and Jordan Storey will miss the trip to Ipswich after his red card at Middlesbrough.

Stefan Thordarson was sold to Hannover 96, Will Keane went on loan to Reading and Harrison Armstrong returned to parent club Everton, though Heckingbottom hopes the 19-year-old will return for the remainder of the season.

"We'll wait and hopefully get him back," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's not our player and it's totally down to Everton. I spoke with David [Moyes] again this morning, so I know the lay of the land, exactly where we sit and he knows our thoughts on it."

Heckingbottom said supporters are "as worried as I am" that their January business is still yet to be concluded.

"I'd rather have it [incomings] on 1 January, that's the aim and then you can be working with it," he said.

"I'm looking at the players we've lost in a time when we can do something about it. So my frustrations are always that. That will always be the same, but it's not an easy window to work in, to operate in."

Preston have suffered three straight league defeats and picked up just four wins from their past 15 Championship games (D6 L5) which has seen them slip from fourth to ninth, one point off the play-off places.

"Hopefully we welcome Andy [Hughes] back now, he's back in training, so that's one back," Heckingbottom added.

"If we can bring a couple of signings in, brilliant. If we can get Harrison back, then we'll be back to where we wanted to be."

Ipswich Town and Preston North End are both hoping to return to winning ways when they meet at Portman Road.

The Suffolk side's 3-1 defeat by Sheffield United last weekend means they are now five points outside the automatic promotion places - albeit with a game in hand on the top two - while Preston have slipped to ninth after a three-match losing streak.

• Ipswich have lost their past two Championship games against Preston (3-2 in February 2024 and 1-0 in August 2025), only once previously losing three in a row against them in the second tier: a run of four between August 2005 and March 2007.

• Preston will be aiming to complete a league double over Ipswich for the first time since 2008-09, when they beat them home (3-2) and away (2-1) under Alan Irvine.

• Ipswich were beaten by Sheffield United last time out (3-1 at Bramall Lane), but have only lost consecutive Championship matches under Kieran McKenna once previously (2-1 v Middlesbrough and 3-0 v Charlton in October 2025).

• Preston have lost their past three Championship games without scoring a single goal, last having a longer streak in a single campaign in April-May 2024 (five losses, zero goals).

• Ipswich's Marcelino Nunez has assisted seven goals in the Championship this season – since 2018-19, only one midfielder has registered more in a single second-tier campaign for the club (eight by Conor Chaplin in 2023-24).

Preston North End are set to sign Serbian striker Milos Lukovic on loan from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg after the 20-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan at Spanish Segunda Division club Las Palmas. (L'Equipe - in French), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston chairman Ian Penrose has confirmed the club are in talks with potential investors.

Penrose took over as chairman in October after owner Craig Hemmings stepped down.

Sky News reported on Saturday, external that US-born Saudi businessman Amr Zedan had held discussions about investing in the Championship club.

The club said since this story was published, the club's owners and board had been subjected to abuse on social media.

"We have commenced discussions with a number of parties from around the world who have expressed an interest in acquiring Preston North End," Penrose told the club website, external.

"This process is in its early stages and is ongoing as we continue to receive new approaches.

"I can confirm that we have had discussions with Mr Zedan, who we respect highly.

"Mr Zedan is one of a number of successful individuals or organisations that have made enquiries about the club. Specific comments on any approach are inappropriate at this stage."

The Lilywhites lost 4-0 at second-placed Middlesbrough on Saturday to drop down to ninth place.

They have not played in the top flight of English football since 1961.

Penrose added: "While such a transaction can take months to conclude and there is no certainty that a successful outcome will be achieved, it is the board's intention to conclude these negotiations at the earliest opportunity.

"It is of utmost importance that any future owner of Preston North End is the right fit for the football club in order to maximise the club's potential and the ambitions of our fans, stakeholders and owners."

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says he cannot accept how his side were rolled over in their heavy defeat at Middlesbrough.

North End lost a third successive Championship game to fall out of the play-off spots, all without scoring as they succumbed at the Riverside.

They were three down by half-time and then had defender Jordan Storey sent off to make matters worse on a miserable afternoon for all concerned.

"The goals were all mistakes, all errors, so you're never going to win games if you give goals away like that," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We've gifted the game to Boro but they're a good side - it would have been hard enough anyway not doing that.

"But I can't accept that we come to a place like this and just because they're a good side, we roll over.

"We've shown in spells this season that we can play to those levels. Our challenge is putting a group together that can do it for 46 games."

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Middlesbrough have the chance to cut Coventry's lead to three points with a win over Preston on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Boro are looking to record four successive league wins for the second time this season.

Preston's promotion challenge is wobbling on the back of successive home defeats by Derby and Hull City in which they have failed to score but they did win their last away game, 2-0 at Bristol City.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past three home league games against Preston North End (W2 D1), netting nine goals in those matches. Since the start of 2022-23, it is the most goals they've scored on home soil against any side in the Championship.

• Preston North End are unbeaten across their past four league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D2), while they last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run in this fixture between December 1951 and December 1953 (five games).

• Following a 4-0 win against Southampton earlier this month, Middlesbrough are looking to record a clean sheet in consecutive home league games for the first time since their first two at the Riverside this season.

• Preston have lost their past two league games, though both have come at home. They last lost more consecutively in April last season (4).

• Morgan Whittaker has scored six goals in 12 home league appearances for Middlesbrough this season. That is at least three times as many as any of his team-mates at the Riverside (two for David Strelec, Hayden Hackney, Tommy Conway and Dael Fry).